Quality Assurance for Postgraduate Programs: Design of a Model Applied on a University in Chile

Marcelo Careaga Butter,Maria Graciela Badilla Quintana,Laura Jiménez Pérez,Eileen Sepúlveda Valenzuela,Eduardo Meyer Aguilera

doi:10.19173/irrodl.v18i1.2670

Abstract

<p class="33">The quality of Education in Chile is a controversial topic that has been in the public debate in the last several years. To ensure quality in graduate programs, accreditation is compulsory. The current article presents a model to improve the process of self-regulation. The main objective was to design a Model of Quality Assurance for Postgraduate Programs in order to constitute a theoretical, mathematical, and informatics reference that would optimize the processes of self-regulation, self-evaluation, and accreditation of master and doctorate programs from the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Chile. This descriptive research is based on a mixed methods approach. The proposal was intended through theoretical and empirical references related to the accreditation systems. The analysis process was conducted with key informants, and the informatics instrument was created and validated through expert judgment. After the analysis, the model was optimized considering the expert’s suggestions. As a result of the optimization process, a matrix of eight dimensions was obtained and it is available online in order to be used by the heads of postgraduate programs. Finally, a model with four main stages was achieved in order to install a self-regulation and a self-evaluated culture that leads to accreditation as evidence of the quality of postgraduate programs.</p>

Highlights

Discussion of quality benchmarks in postgraduate programs has become highly relevant. Examples of this process across the world include the following: Universities in USA are accredited by national agencies such as Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB), Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and American Bar Association (ABA)
It has been focused on learning achievements, results on standardized tests, teachers’ performance, and comparison with standards emanating from the international context
Main result of this research is related to the development of a model constituted by three elements: the references frames, the theoretical and mathematical; and an informatics platform, on which is implemented

Summary

Introduction

Discussion of quality benchmarks in postgraduate programs has become highly relevant. Quality means no deficiencies or absence of errors requiring rework or resulting in faulty operation, customer dissatisfaction and/or complaints (oriented to costs) These concepts are closely linked to the concept of total quality or excellence or total quality management that have been defined as any kind of forms through which the institution meets the needs and expectations of its clients, its workers, entities involved financially, and society in general (Santillán & Asmat, 2015). The quality of the Chilean education is being treated as a demand that emerges from the social, political, and economic system to the educational system It has been focused on learning achievements, results on standardized tests, teachers’ performance, and comparison with standards emanating from the international context. This situation is contextualized on the demands that emerge from the incorporation of Chile to the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, 2013)

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